How does Pueblo feel about nuclear power? Residents, leaders weigh in - Pueblo Chieftain

How does Pueblo feel about nuclear power? Residents, leaders weigh in

Energy advisory committee, community members discuss Pueblo nuclear plant at city council
James Bartolo

While Pueblo City Council's vote on a local camping ban was the biggest contributor to packed council chambers on Monday, Feb. 12, a significant number of citizens also came to talk about nuclear energy.

The Pueblo Innovative Energy Solutions Advisory Committee(PIESAC), a committee of local leaders that recommends replacing the coal-fired Comanche 3 power plant with advanced nuclear following Comanche 3's closure, presented their conclusions to council members at a work session Monday night.

Citing information from a U.S. Department of Energy infographic, PIESAC co-chair Frances Koncilja told council that advanced nuclear is "head and shoulders" above other energy sources when considering emissions, availability, land use, economic benefits and other criteria.

"With these new advanced nuclear (plants), there's a molten salt and a light-water reactor," Koncilja said. "There is not that much waste because they only refuel those every five to seven years for molten salt and for the others — it's every four to five years. We are looking at a couple of cylinders every five to seven years."

Koncilja further addressed concerns that Pueblo will become a "nuclear waste zone" with the introduction of a nuclear plant.

"That's not true... The Nuclear Regulatory Committee requires companies to have a safe way to store the waste and it's not a huge amount of waste," Koncilja said.

Koncilja was joined by fellow PIESAC co-chair Corrine Koehler for the work session presentation. PIESAC members Jeff Shaw, of the Pueblo Economic Development Corporation, and Sara Blackhurst, of Action 22, also spoke in favor of advanced nuclear during the work session.

"My (PEDCO) board has taken a position, same as what the PIESAC (position) was, which is we need to study (advanced nuclear) and look at it," Shaw said. "It would be a disservice for us not to look at it... I encourage the community to get educated on it."

City council members weigh in on tax benefits, viability

Joe Latino, a councilman representing neighborhoods in east Pueblo, raised concerns about an advanced nuclear plant making Pueblo a "stepchild" to larger metropolitan areas north of the Steel City. He also called for an "unbiased" assessment of advanced nuclear's viability.

"I am not going to support this," Latino said. "I'm just not until there is more information."

Dennis Flores, councilman at-large, spoke more positively of the prospect by referencing PIESAC's estimated $95.29 million in property tax benefits generated by advanced nuclear.

"It's almost three times what we collect now from Comanche 3," Flores said. "It would ultimately change the two (city and county) governments — having a much better situation."

Community members express concerns

Community members Gus Garcia and Dr. Velma Campbell had opposing opinions on the camping ban proposed by council, but both spoke against the prospect of a nuclear plant coming to town during the meeting's public comment portion.

Garcia spoke in support of the camping ban, but in opposition to nuclear. In his statement opposing nuclear, he said marginalized communities would suffer the most if something was to go wrong with a nuclear power plant.

"Most of the (PIESAC members) that I heard mentioned during Frances Koncilja's speech are affluent individuals in our community... those individuals, should something happen, have the means to be able to flee this community in the hope of finding safety," Garcia said.

Campbell questioned PIESAC's neutrality and said those who had raised questions about nuclear during a previous Pueblo County-led committee were excluded from participation in PIESAC.

"The nuclear industry and (U.S. Department of Energy) are presenting a sales pitch for new and advanced nuclear... They're going around marketing to communities that they feel are too disadvantaged and desperate to look this gift horse in the mouth," Campbell said.

Nuclear in Pueblo: Advanced nuclear power is costly and tech is still developing. Is a Pueblo plant realistic?

Pueblo Chieftain reporter James Bartolo can be reached at JBartolo@gannett.com. Support local news, subscribe to The Pueblo Chieftain at subscribe.chieftain.com.